First I had to put in some time with the snowblower, so the mailman could drop it off.
And I like it!
Having spent way too much time working with internet instructions by someone TOO familiar and they fail to notice a small but necessary step and I waste an hour or more...
A common problem.
The best part is that the author is also the illustrator and understands what needs to be communicated.
I started thinking one like:
https://www.edelrid.de/en/sports/knowledge/ropemat.php
Then I saw the cover of Marlinspike Sailor, there it was!
Now I see it on page 41.
In the meantime, I warmed up the lathe and some nice oak fids.
Printed templates and practice, practice, practice on a light braided line before going to 50 meters of 11mm.
When I have the time I' I'll read Marlinspike cover to cover, lots of good information. A small fraction of Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Ropework. Now I'm deciding between circular or oval.
Found my most favored old rope, many memories, a forty-foot fall on an overhang.
A first ascent that a friend and I put up in the '80s. Last year our son was climbing in the same area and a fellow climber gave him a photocopy of an out of print book on the area climbs.
My climbing partner and I are listed with the first ascent in an actual hardcover book! This would have been fun to brag on; forty years ago!
Soon I will have a nice rope mat and the story with it!
"A younger man with phenomenal concentration,, maybe not."
As a septuagenarian, that leaves me out!
My plan is to enlist #1 Son to assist, but he has many irons in the fire, so I will practice on.
Thank you again!
PS:
An old friend says it is best to acquire new skills to avoid becoming stuck in a rut.
Speaking of mats, I bought this a week ago. I don't know what I'm doing buying another knot book. I already have a shelf full of them that I've barely cracked the cover on. But a couple of things sold me: First, he said in the forward it was his intention to teach readers how combine knots together to make other even more useful things. Second... 20 mats! Sixty projects total. He also has a little section on marlinspikes, fids, heaving boards (which I had never heard of), etc., many of which it appears he makes himself.
I always wanted to make bellropes, dog leashes, key fobs, etc. Even though I don't have a bell, don't need a bell, and don't ever plan to buy a bell, I've seen some very cool bellropes and wouldn't mind making one. And if I absolutely have to, I'll buy a doggone bell to go with it! It's all decorative anyhoo.
Anyway, I hate to recommend another book, especially one I've spent so little time with. But... 20 mats and other projects, AND it supposedly teaches you how to think about combining knots intelligently to make other things... What can you lose, especially if you can find a good used copy for a good price? I apologize. I won't keep doing this to you!
Liked the Edelrid site. Love the rope. Beautiful stuff. Can you imagine what the old timers would've thought of today's hi-tech ropes?
A lathe, too? You're a man of many talents!
That's a wise old friend you have there.